Men's Golf

Yale leading Ivy League tournament

Bulldogs finish the day with an overall team score of 306

GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Yale sits two strokes clear of Ivy League rivals Penn in first place after the opening day's play at the Ivy League Championship at Galloway National Golf Course in Galloway, N.J.

While the Bulldogs had an across-the-board performance to finish the day with an overall team score of 306 (+22), Ancient Eight contenders Penn and Princeton ended the first round with team scores of 308 (+24) and 310 (+26), respectively.

Though it was Dartmouth golfer Peter Williamson who sizzled on the first day, finishing atop the leaderboard at 69 (-2) - three strokes ahead of second place - Yale golfers figured among the top end.

Indeed, it was the consistent all-round team performance that saw the Elis place right at the top overall.

With no finish worse than fifth place in the past four tournaments, senior captain Thomas McCarthy led the way once again, firing a 75 (+4) to end the day in eighth place.

Not far behind were junior Jeffrey Hatten, sophomore Bradley Kushner and freshman Sam Bernstein – all of them have had strong seasons, and they did not disappoint today. Hatten scored +5 to finish a tie for ninth, while Kushner and Bernstein notched up rounds of 77 (+6) and 78 (+7) to finish in outright 11th and 12th place, respectively.

The players had to contend with the difficult course at Galloway National, which McCarthy said beforehand would be a "test of patience." The course was crafted by Tom Fazio and features marked contour changes, pine forest, sand and water.